Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/2868
high school would have taken, in places like Target and In-N-Out Burger. A lot of my up- per classmen are trying to find part-time jobs to help support the families.” Even though students and families are stressed, says Behling, most people prefer not to talk about it. “It’s been very subtle,” he says. “There is an undercurrent. You have students and parents trying to maintain a strong front, but I don’t know how long the façade can last.” Some who have lost their homes are liv- ing with friends and relatives. Teachers say that students can’t af- ford PE clothes or school supplies. And because many stu- dents are working to help support their families, some teachers admit they are assigning them less home- work. “Certain kids are being asked to contrib- ute to the household income, and their aca- Right: A row of pensive students at break. Below: Counselor Mitali Gadhia at Heritage High School in Brentwood. demics start to suffer a bit,” says Mitali Ga- dhia, a counselor at Heritage High School. “I noticed it this year. Students are suffer- ing. They feel a loss of control and say, ‘Oh my God, my family is going through this and what can I do?’ It’s not their problem, ford to go to a four-year college right away and plan to attend community college in- stead. “These are kids with “Sometimes students have to choose between a dance on friday night or going to work.” Spencer Smith, economics and government teacher at Heritage High School but they’re suffering.” The saddest thing, says Gadhia, is that increasing numbers of students are telling her that their plans to attend college have changed. They tell her they now can’t af- really good GPAs, and it’s happening more this year than ever before. I tell them that scholarships are available and we have financial aid staff to help them apply to four-year colleges. I tell them not to give up hope, even if they can’t go to a four-year college right away. It’s very dis- heartening.” Heritage High School economics and gov- ernment teacher Spencer Smith believes stu- dents are holding up well, for the most part. And he says that the economic tailspin has forced many of them to grow up faster than they would have otherwise. “I see students making sacrifices and hard choices. Sometimes they have to choose be- tween going to a dance on Friday night or go- ing to work, and most of them say they are going to work because they know they will have to pay for their college education. They are aware that the government will have less financial aid for them, that tuition is increas- ing, and even that the cost of textbooks has gone up. “In some ways, it is reminiscent to me of Have you felt the effects of the eco- nomic downturn at your school? To share your experiences with other members, visit: www.cta.org. 12 California Educator | november 2008